European Union

EUROPEAN UNION

DELEGATION TO GEORGIA

May 2010

OVERVIEW OF EC ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CONFLICT IN GEORGIA

For the past sixteen years the European Commission has been funding programmes to support people affected by conflict. The projects financed with European money aim at improving the living conditions of the local population that suffered from the consequences of conflict. At the same time, these actions are designed to assist in creating conditions for the return of displaced persons who had to flee their homes in the early 1990s. These actions also try to facilitate progress in a constructive dialogue between opposing social groups. Even before August 2008, the EC was the largest donor to support the needs of conflict- affected persons in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The EC intervention included the following: § Starting with humanitarian aid after the civil wars of the early 1990s, which then gradually broadened to more longer-term reconstruction and development projects; § Assistance to the return and integration of displaced persons into the local socio-economic fabric, including the construction of permanent housing, rebuilding houses, schools, hospitals, drinking water supply and irrigation systems; § Small-scale agricultural income-generation projects to help farmers ad others getting out of the poverty trap; § Strengthening local communities - socially and economically; § Support to democracy and rule of law through civil society; § Facilitating dialogue and confidence building across the conflict divide; § Mine and unexploded ordnance clearance;

Before August 2008 the EC was the largest donor in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Following the open conflict between Russia and Georgia in August 2008 the EC remains committed to continue to support the people who are affected by conflict in Georgia. This includes the needs of new IDPs as well as old IDPs and, where possible, the local population living inside the conflict affected areas, such as Abkhazia. In autumn 2008 the EC has responded to the needs of people affected by the war between Georgia and Russia by allocating new funding for Georgia in addition to its existing programmes. The European Commission announced at the Donors’ Conference on Georgia (Brussels, 22 October 2008) that it will assist Georgia via a 500 Million Euros comprehensive assistance package. Via this 500 Million Euros package (covering the period 2008 until 2010) the Commission aims to provide assistance to the resettlement of internally displaced persons; the economic rehabilitation and recovery; the macro-financial stabilisation and support to Georgia’s infrastructure. After the August war of 2008 the EC-funded programmes in South Ossetia have come to a halt. In Abkhazia, however, the EC projects are still ongoing and even new projects were launched. At present, the EC remains the largest donor in Abkhazia. Below is an overview of ongoing, planned and recently completed EC projects related to people affected by conflict in Georgia: 1. Support to Internally displaced persons (IDPs) 2. Projects to support the population in Abkhazia 3. Projects to support the population in (and around) South Ossetia 4. Confidence building and dialogue projects 5. Other related projects

1 1. SUPPORT TO INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS)

Targeted budget support, for urgent IDP housing needs: 61.5M€, Georgian Government, allocations during 2008-2009 in different instalments The European Commission has pledged 61.5 million Euros for 2 targeted budget support programmes (10 million Euros + 61.5 million Euros including 1 million Euros for Technical Assistance)) to support the Georgian Government in covering the urgent housing needs for newly displaced persons following the conflict in August 2008 as well as for the construction of houses for the old IDP resulting from the 1992 conflict. In December 2008 the European Commission has allocated 10 Million Euros under Financing Agreement "Support to Georgia IDPs Action Plan: 2008 Part I" (signed and disbursed in December 2008) as part of the 500 million Euros post-conflict commitment to Georgia. It is foreseen, that this first agreement of 10 million Euros will be followed by a second similar agreement of 51.5 million Euros in 2009. The objective of the Budget Support Programme "Support to Georgia IDPs Action Plan: 2008 Part I" is to assist the Government of Georgia, via the Municipal Development Fund, to improve the living conditions of IDPs by providing durable housing solutions. More specifically, this support contributed to the construction of 1,263 new built houses in nine villages located in the regions of Kaspi, Gori and Kareli, providing 28,000 IDPs with new homes. Housing and livelihood support to IDPs - Response to UN Flash Appeal (EC Instrument for Stability-phase 1) – (€15M, 18months, Jan2009-August2010) Following the war of August 2008 the EC has allocated 15M Euros from its ‘Instrument for Stability’ to respond to the needs of IDPs under the UN Flash Appeal. Under this EC programme for post-conflict and emergency response has the following projects are funded: § Winterisation/housing support to people affected by conflict (Flash Appeal): 9.7M €, UNHCR; § Early recovery of IDP livelihoods (Flash appeal): 4.4M€, UNDP; § Civil society support on IDP issues: 0.6M€, Danish Refugee Council; § Monitoring, auditing and evaluation of Stability Instrument projects: 0.4M€, Integration; Support to socio-economic integration of IDPs (Instrument for Stability phase II, NGOs, €5.5M); § Danish Refugee Council: Community Stabilisation for IDPs, Host communities and returnees (€1M, 18 months, start Sep2009) § DVV international: Supporting socio-economic Integration of IDPs in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region (€1M, 18 months, start Sep2009) § Fundación Acción contra el Hambre: Supporting the Integration of IDPs in Kvemo Kartli Region (€1M, 18 months, start Sep2009) § Oxfam: Supporting the socio-economic integration of IDPs and their host communities through engagement in active dialogue and decision-making (€1M, 18 months, start Sep2009) § People in Need: Support to socio-economic integration of internally displaces population in the Zugdidi district (€500,000, 18 months, start Sep2009) § Save the Children: Community Centres for Conflict Affected Communities in Georgia (€1M, 18 months, start September 2009) Restoration and improvement of agriculture livelihoods for new IDPs and returnees in the area adjacent to South Ossetia (ENPI2008, €1,000,000, 12 months, Aug2009-Aug2010) This project aims to assure the food security and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable conflict-affected population in Georgia through (1) the recovery and establishment of local agricultural production and (2) provision of solutions for improved water irrigation sources and supply. This project is implemented in IDP settlements and returnee villages in conflict-affected Shida-Kartli by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Assistance and capacity building to conflict-affected populations (ENP2008, €500,000, 6months, Aug09-Feb10) This project aims to support the re-establishment of livelihoods and food security of communities and families in post-conflict, transition situations. It covers cash-for-work activities, such as fencing of houses and kitchen gardens, construction of animal sheds and water harvesting facilities. This project is implemented in IDP settlements and returnee villages in conflict-affected Shida Kartli by the Wold Food Programme (WFP). IDP civil society support projects to local NGOs (€500,000, Dec2006-Dec2008) The EC launched a Decentralised Cooperation programme to support NGO activities that address the needs of persons who are internally displaced as a result of the regional conflicts in Georgia. This programme has the following priorities for cooperation on IDP issues: (1) Capacity building of NGOs 2 representing IDPs or working on IDP issues; (2) Promotion of a social and policy dialogue on IDP issues between civil society and the government (including local authorities); (3): Promotion of the rights of IDPs and their integration into the society in Georgia through the support to initiatives responding to the social and economic needs of the IDP population. Following a call for proposals for NGOs in summer 2006, these projects were implemented between December 2006 and December 2008. § Union "Sachino": IDPs Rights Protection and Promotion in Imereti Region (€90,000) § Association of the Disabled in Tsalenjikha (ADT): Economic Support for IDPs in Samegrelo (€99,508) § Conciliation Resources (CR): Building IDP Capacity for Political Participation (€100,000) - completed § International Institute for Education Policy, Planning and Management: IDP Integration through Education (€96,786) § Regional Centre of Human Rights Protection: Protection of the Rights of the IDPs in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara (€78,484) § Danish Refugee Council (DRC): Strengthening State-Civic Dialogue on Housing Solutions for Collectively Accommodated IDPs (€99,939) Humanitarian aid: Post South Ossetia Conflict - Emergency Aid ECHO phase 4 (€2M, 18 months, Jan09-Aug10) In February 2009 ECHO has allocated a further 2 million Euros to continue its relief assistance to the vulnerable victims of the open conflict between Georgian and Russia and to the victims of conflict in Abkhazia. This assistance includes: continued protection activities, clearance of unexploded ordnance, non-food items, psychosocial support and other integrated relief activity deemed necessary. § ICRC: Support to IDPs: Food, Non-Food Items, Protection(family links), North Ossetia, Georgia– Cont’d €1,000,000; § DRC: Humanitarian livelihood support to vulnerable population in southern Abkhazia, Georgia, €250,000; § Save the Children – NL: Psychosocial support, Gori, Tbilisi, Rustavi – Cont’d, €250,000 Humanitarian aid: Post South Ossetia Conflict-Emergency Aid – ECHO Phase 3 (€2M, 15 months, Dec28-Feb2010) In December 2008 ECHO has allocated an additional 2 million Euros to continue its relief assistance to the vulnerable victims of the open conflict between Georgian and Russia and to the victims of conflict in Abkhazia. This assistance includes emergency food distributions, non-food times, psycho-social support and early livelihood recovery activities: § WFP: Food aid and cash assistance for IDPs countrywide and affected households in the adjacent area to South Ossetia (€1,500,000) 2 months, 01/01/2009 - 28/02/2009 (100,000 beneficiaries) § DRC: livelihood support project in Abkhazia (250,000 Euros) and Care: Firewood distribution in the Shida-Kartli region (€250,000). Humanitarian aid: Post South Ossetia Conflict-Emergency Aid – ECHO Phase 2 (€5M, Aug08- Mar09) § WFP: Food aid (essential dry food). Countrywide (New Collective Centres + places of return), €1,000,000, 6 months 9/8/2008 - 8/2/2009 (18,000 beneficiaries) § World Vision: Food supplement in IDP Collective Centres, Tbilisi. 300,000 Euros, 2 months 13/10/08- 12/12/08 (14,000 beneficiaries) § ICRC: Support to IDPs: Food, Non-Food Items, Protection (family links). North Ossetia; Georgia, 1,000,000 Euros, 5 months 9/08/08-8/01/09 (15,250 beneficiaries) § UNHCR: Protection & registration & Coordination. Countrywide, €600,000, 6 months 15/08/08- 14/02/09 (133,056 beneficiaries) § Care: Non Food Items & Shelter (individual). Buffer zone, €500,000, 4 months 15/9/08-14/01/09, (5,625 beneficiaries) § Danish Refugee Council (DRC): Shelter (winterization) for IDPs. Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Kashuri, €400,000, 5 months 30/09/08 eligibility:23/09/08 (860 beneficiaries) § Norwegian Refugee council (NRC): Shelter (winterization). Tbilisi, Gori and Kutaisi regions, €400,000, 6 months 25/09/08-24/03/09 (750 beneficiaries) § Save the Children -NL: Psycho-social support, Gori, Tbilisi, Rustavi, €300,000, 6 months (2,100 beneficiaries).

3 Humanitarian aid: Post South Ossetia conflict - Primary Emergency Relief– ECHO Phase 1 (€1M - Aug-Nov2008) § World Food Programme (WFP): Food aid (essential dry food). Georgia countrywide (except South Ossetia), €500,000, 3 months 9/8/2008 - 8/11/2008 (9,700 beneficiaries) § Danish Refugee Council (DRC): Non-Food Items and emergency shelter, Western Georgia, €300,000, 3 months 9/8/2008 - 8/11/2008 (4,500 beneficiaries) § Première Urgence (PU): Non-Food Items for shelter and hygiene kits, Tbilisi, €200,000, 3 months 14/8/2008 - 13/11/2008 (5,000 beneficiaries).

2. PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THE POPULATION IN ABKHAZIA Follow-up rehabilitation programme for Abkhazia and adjacent areas in western Georgia – Phase 3 (ENP Action Plan 2007, €4M, 36 months, contracts with UNDP and UNHCR, start March-April 2010) Under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) for 2007 the EC included a follow-up programme for the Georgia-Abkhaz conflict zone of 4 million Euros. This new programme, which is a continuation of the first two EC economic rehabilitation programme for the Georgian/Abkhaz conflict zone as implemented in 2005-2008 (see below), will consist of three main components with civil society support as integrated part: § Reconstruction of basic infrastructure (such as healthcare facilities, schools and drinking water supply) – UNDP; § Income-generation and community-based projects – UNHCR; § Shelter assistance, e.g. durable housing solutions for IDPs, returnees and local population – UNHCR. The areas of focus will be Zugdidi, Gali, Ochamchira and Tkvarcheli. The implementing partners for this programme will be UNDP (in partnership with UNICEF, NRC and World Vision) and UNHCR (in partnership with international NGOs: ACF, DRC, NRC and World Vision). Project activities of UNHCR and UNDP have started in March/April 2010. Housing rehabilitation for returnees in Gali (UNHCR et al., €2M, 18months, start Oct2008) As part of the second phase of the Instrument for Stability Programme the EC is funding UNHCR to provide for durable housing for returnees in Gali. This project is implemented by UNHCR in cooperation with its partners Danish Refugee Council and Norwegian Refugee Council) Income-generation projects in Abkhazia (international NGOs, €1.57M, Jan2007-Jan2011) The EC is supporting several income-generation projects in Abkhazia to help vulnerable people to get out of the poverty trap. Such projects aim aims to improve the living conditions of vulnerable households, men and women in Abkhazia, through income-generating and community development activities, supported by strengthened village structures and support to local civil society, as well as to establish links and networks inside and between local communities of Abkhazia and Georgia proper. At present the EC is funding the following income-generation activities for local communities in Abkhazia: § Accion Contra el Hambre: Integrated community development programme in Abkhazia ((€989,694, 12months, Jan 2007-Dec 2009, NGO Co-financing programme) § World Vision: Vocational and Business Skills in Abkhazia (€284,402, 18 months, Jan2009-Jun2010, Non-State Actors programme); § Premier Urgence: Development of Agro-Services in Southern Abkhazia (€300,000, 24 months, Jan2009-Jan 2011, Non-State Actors programme) Social and community support projects for people in Abkhazia Several projects work with local communities in projects that complement that infrastructure, housing and livelihood support projects at grassroots level: § Danish Refugee Council: School Attendance and Dialogue in Abkhazia, €494,204, 18 months, start Jun2009, Regional, Regional EC programme for protection of children in conflicts); § Danish Refugee Council: Community Stabilisation for IDPs, Host communities and returnees (€ 1M, 18 months, start Sep2009, Instrument for Stability II); § UNICEF: Community support for children and young people in Abkhazia, €1M, 18 months, start Aug2009, Instrument for Stability II) Civil society projects in Abkhazia (Instrument for Stability – phase 2) To support an integrated approach in supporting the local population in Abkhazia the EC also funds projects with local NGOs to address the strengthening of local civil society, rule of law, governance and human rights within local communities: § Association of Women in Abkhazia: Social and psychological support to vulnerable people in Abkhazia (€100,000, 18months, start Oct2009); § Civil Society Development Centre: The role of youth in Abkhazia in the construction of civil society, €50,000, 18months, start Sep2009); 4 § Cultural Charity Centre “World without Violence”: Together to a legal and stable society, 18months, €70,000, start Sep009) § Foundation Civic Initiative of Human Beings for the Future: Promotion of implementation of international standards in the sphere of protection of human rights and access to fair justice in Abkhazia (€50,000, 12months, start Aug2009); § Institute for Democracy: Creating mechanisms for information exchange: organisational development of civil society in Gali region (€49,899, 18 months, start Sep2009); § Sukhum Youth House: Youth civic participation (€80,000, 18months, start Sep2009) EC Economic Rehabilitation Programmes for Georgia/Abkhazia – Phases 1 and 2 (€3.96M total, 36months, Dec2005-Jan2009) Since 2005 EC has supported a comprehensive rehabilitation programme for the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone (e.g. the districts of Gali, Ochamchira, and Tkvarcheli in the east of Abkhazia, as well as the Zugdidi district on the Georgian side of the cease fire line) in order to improve living conditions of both communities across the Georgian-Abkhaz divide. The objective of the EC rehabilitation programmes for Abkhazia is to support rebuilding essential infrastructure in the conflict zones for economic reconstruction as well as the safe and dignified repatriation of refugees and displaced persons. UNOMIG and UNDP were the main implementation partners of these programmes. This programme was divided into two separate phases and aims to provide for a linkage between the need for relief and development aid. First EC Rehabilitation programme for Georgia/Abkhazia (€1.98M, 24-36 months, Dec 2005-Dec2008) The first phase of the EC Rehabilitation programme includes the following components: § Electricity supply (Gali, Ochamchira, Tkvarcheli, Zugdidi – UNOMIG, UNDP) – completed; § Public health (hospital refurbishment, training for medical staff) and basic services (such as drinking water supply water) (Gali, Ochamchira, Tkvarcheli and Zugdidi – UNOMIG, UNDP) - completed; § Local agricultural development projects (Gali, Ochamchira, Tkvarcheli and Zugdidi - UNDP) - completed Second EC Economic Rehabilitation Programmes for Georgia/Abkhazia II (€1.77M, 12-24months, Jan 2007-June2009) The EC funded a second phase of its comprehensive rehabilitation programme for the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone, which focuses on further rehabilitation works on the Enguri Hydro-power plant and were implemented partly in parallel with the first phase. EBRD as well as UNOMIG and UNDP were the implementation partners of this programme. The second phase programme complements the first phase with the following components: § The EC supported repairs of turbine Nr.4 at the Enguri Hydro Power Plant (HPP) in cooperation with the EBRD. This rehabilitation programme was a second phase of the EC financed rehabilitation projects at Enguri HPP. In the first phase of 2004-2006 the EC funded the full refurbishment of turbine Nr.3 and repairs of the stoplog at the arch dam for 9.4 million, as completed in spring 2006. The works at turbine Nr.4 were completed on 14/08/2009 (Enguri HPP – EBRD, 1,57m Euros) – completed August 2009 § Civilian police activities, including the reconstruction of the police station in Lia village and police training (Zugdidi – UNOMIG, 90,000 Euros) – completed May 2008 § Enguri Shuttle Bus (Enguri Bridge at ceasefire line – UNOMIG, 20,000 Euros) – started March 2007 but cancelled after August 2008 § Information Sharing Centre (Sukhumi – UNDP, 90,000 Euros) – cancelled Humanitarian aid (ECHO budget 2007): (€2M, 12months, Jan2008 – Jan 2009) The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Programme ECHO is financing humanitarian aid/recovery programmes in Abkhazia, Georgia, which aim at improving the living condition of the people most affected by the unresolved Georgian-Abkhaz conflict. The recipients include internally displace persons (IDPs) and returnees in Abkhazia, Western Georgia. The assistance focuses on small-scale income-generation projects and basic rehabilitation of destroyed individual houses. The following projects are currently supported: § Danish Refugee Council: Shelter rehabilitation food security and income generation assistance. Gali district, 1,200,000 Euros, 01/08 – 12/08 (1,200 direct beneficiaries, ECHO humanitarian aid). § Premiere Urgence: Shelter rehabilitation, food security and income generation assistance. 5 districts in Abkhazia, 800,000 Euros, 01/08 – 01/09 (700 direct beneficiaries, ECHO humanitarian aid).

5 3. PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THE POPULATION IN (AND AROUND) SOUTH-OSSETIA

The EC projects in South Ossetia were overtaken by events in August 2008 and consequently came to an end. To date, the doors to South Ossetia for EC-funded projects remain closed (except for one small youth house project in Akhalgori). Support to Akhalgori youth house (€50,000, Instrument for Stability, 18months, Sep2009-Mar2011) A small-scale project is currently ongoing to support the youth house in Akhalgori, a district in South Ossetia with a predominantly Georgian population. This project included language and computer classes for the local Georgian and South Ossetian children, as well as cultural outings. These activities is a component of the Saferworld confidence building project: 'Establishing Conditions for Effective Conflict Prevention and Transformation following the August 2008 crisis' (see below under 4 – confidence building and dialogue projects) Development of an early warning system in conflict-affected Shida Kartli region (€40,000, Instrument for Stability, 12 months, sep2009-Oct2010) After the conflict of August 2008 the EC supports a small-scale project to develop an early warning mechanism in the areas adjacent to South Ossetia. The project, which is implemented by the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD) (GE) and ProNGO! (Germany). The project produces monthly monitoring reports on the situation in Shida Kartli (including Akhalgori) based on early warning indicators. UXO and Mine clearance in conflict-affected Shida Kartli region adjacent to South Ossetia, (€1,00,000 ECHO Humanitarian aid, HALO Trust, 37,777 beneficiaries, 16months, Aug2008- Dec2009,) The August 2008 conflict between Russian and Georgian forces contaminated villages in the Shida Kartli Region with mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). With ECHO funding the Halo Trust implemented programme for the removal of mines and UXO from an area of 4,300ha in Shida Kartli, which was completed in December 2009. Economic Rehabilitation Programme in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict - Phase 4, EC contribution to multi-donor programme (€2M, 36 months, Dec2007-Dec2010) – suspended after August 2008 The EC had initially allocated 2 million Euros for further rehabilitation activities under an OSCE-led multi- donor programme in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone for 2006-2008 with a total budget of 10million USD, following the donor conference in Brussels and the needs assessment study in 2006. The EC contribution under this fourth phase rehabilitation programme focuses initially on electricity and gas projects but was in summer 2008 reallocated to school rehabilitation. After the war of August 2008, this programme was put on hold. However, It is being discussed whether it reallocation of project activities would be possible to a transitional economic rehabilitation programme by OSCE for people affected by the conflict in Gori and adjacent areas.

4. CONFIDENCE BUILDING AND DIALOGUE PROJECTS

NEW - Confidence Building Early Response Mechanism ('COBERM') (UNDP, €4M, 18 months, start May 2010) The European Commission is funding a new initiative called 'Confidence Building Early Response Mechanism' (COBERM in short). This new programme fund of €4 million was established mid-May to support immediate and concrete small-scale project initiatives, which seek to have a demonstrable impact on confidence building within and across conflict divided communities in and around Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This programme will be managed by UNDP in cooperation with the EU Delegation. COBERM projects should be able to be launched at short notice and have the maximum duration of 18 months. Proposals for projects, which could at this stage range from €5,000 to €200,000, could be submitted directly to UNDP. Any organisation, natural or legal person (or authority) may come up with a project idea that contributes to confidence building. More information on COBERM for interested parties can be found on the following website: http://undp.org.ge/new/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=40&pr_id=141 Confidence building and peace building projects Under the Instrument for Stability the EC is funding projects to support confidence building, people-to- people contacts in Georgia, including in South Ossetia and Abkhazia (€2.44m total budget): § IKV Pax Christi (& Berghof Foundation): Dialogue and Study Visits for the Transformation of the Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian Conflicts (€380,000, 18 months, start Sep 2009) This project includes dialogue activities Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-South Ossetian dialogue activities as well as a study visit to Moldova/Transdniestrie 6 § International Institute for Strategic Studies: Georgian-Russian Dialogue on Post August War Challenges (€450,000, 18 months, start Sep 2009) This project includes Georgian-Russian dialogue meetings, preparing reports and recommendations for addressing issues of confidence building in the Georgian-Russian context § International Alert: Action Dialogue (€505,000, 18 months, start Sep 2009) This project includes civil society capacity building and confidence building through economic cooperation among Georgian, Abkhaz and South Ossetian communities) § Saferworld (& Conciliation-Resources): Establishing Conditions for Effective Conflict Prevention and Transformation following the August 2008 crisis (€1,065,000, 18 months, start Sep 2009) This project includes support to engagement between, and raise awareness and build confidence among Georgian, Abkhaz and (to a lesser extent) South Ossetian communities on ways of addressing the conflict § Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (BIM) (& International Centre on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN)): Strengthening European partnerships for crisis prevention and response: Civil society peace-building round tables for Georgia (€40,000, 10 months, start Oct2009) This project includes dialogue roundtables and policy recommendations on peace-building in Georgia for EU institutions with inputs from diverse civil society actors. Dialogue and mediation projects in South Caucasus The EC also supports two and mediation initiatives are implemented in the South Caucasus, including in Georgia: § International Alert: The South Caucasus Mediation & Dialogue Initiative for Reignited Peace Processes (€ 1,862,467, 24months, start Oct2009, EIDHR programme) This project supports dialogue, research, analysis, advocacy, exchange by civil society actors and direct work and conflict-affected communities concerning mediation and peace building processes in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. § International Alert: Strengthening the Capacity of the Peacebuilding Sector in the South Caucasus, (€794,042, 36months, start Nov2009, Non-State Actors Programme) This project aims at strengthening the dialogue on conflict resolution issues within the South Caucasus and promoting more inclusive policy making in the region by strengthening the dialogue between non-state actors and decision makers from different sides of the conflicts in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. § Care Austria: Strengthening Women’s Capacity for Peace-building in the South Caucasus Region (36months, start Mar2010, EIDHR programme) This project aims at developing the capacity building of (mainly) women's groups to participate in local peace building and dialogue processes in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

5. OTHER: POLICY ADVICE TO THE STATE MINSTRY OF REINTEGRATION

Policy advice to Georgia's State Ministry for Reintegration regarding the Action Plan for the 'State Strategy on the Occupied Territories: Engagement for Cooperation' (€228,638, 18months, start April 2010) The EC-funded project provides EU expertise for policy advice to the State Ministry for Reintegration that aims at contributing to peaceful conflict management and transformation in Georgia, including policy advice concerning the Action Plan for the 'State Strategy on the Occupied Territories: Engagement for Cooperation' . The project's main EU expert is Dr. Antje Herrberg. Project activities have started mid-April.

Support the State Ministry of Reintegration: policy advice (€182,424, 23months, July07-June09) This EC-funded policy advice project offered a team of experts to support the State Ministry of Reintegration in its effort to increase it expertise and management capacity. This project had the following general objectives: § To assist the Office of the State Ministry in capacity building of human resources; § To provide necessary training to the staff of the State Minister’s Office. § To provide policy advice on conflict resolution issues to build up the Ministry's operational resources.

Project status: May 2010

For a monthly update on the EC project assistance to people affected by conflict please consult the website of the European Union Delegation to Georgia: www.delgeo.ec.europa.eu (under ‘EU-Georgia Areas of Cooperation’ / ‘Conflict Resolution’). For further information please feel free to contact: Maria van Ruiten, Project Manager for Post- Conflict Response (Abkhazia & South Ossetia), at the European Commission Delegation to Georgia in Tbilisi, telephone: (+995-32) 94-37-63, email: [email protected]